Ponpes Head in Bima Becomes Suspect in Molestation of Students

ILLUSTRATION UNSPLASH/Larry Farr

MATARAM - A head of a pesantren in Belo District, Bima Regency, West Nusa Tenggara, with the initials RS is a suspect in a case of alleged sexual violence against students.

Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of Bima Police, Iptu Ghufron Subekimemben, confirmed the information about the status of the suspect, the head of the Islamic boarding school with the initials RS.

"Yes, he is a suspect," he said, quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, June 10.

He said the hospital was in a suspect status along with the teacher with the initials SY. The police named the two as suspects based on the results of the case on Tuesday (9/6).

In determining the RS and SY as suspects, the police investigators applied the presumption of Article 473 paragraph (1), paragraph (2) letter b, paragraph (3) letter b, paragraph (4), juncto Article 418 paragraph (1) and paragraph (2) letter b of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code.

The Bima Police handled this case based on a report from the two suspects who were suspected of molesting a number of students.

At least 10 madrasah tsanawiyah students were identified as victims. They come from various regions in Bima Regency.

The two suspects carried out the action while the students were sleeping in the dormitory room. It emerged that this sodomy had occurred repeatedly and lasted for quite some time.

Based on the report that emerged from the victim's complaint in mid-April 2026, the Bima Police followed up by securing the hospital and SY, who were still in the status of suspected perpetrators in early May 2026.

Departing from the victim's statement and other evidence, including the statement of the suspected perpetrator who admitted the act, the police then conducted a trial to determine the suspect.

Now RS and SY who have officially been status suspects are being detained at the Bima Police Detention Center.